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Gallant: Doubles a superfood?

Idle Chatter

Food is one of the many beats I cover for the Banner-Herald. And for some reason, I decided to write about hot dogs for our paper’s Wednesday food section. I think the idea sprang from my ride back from visiting in-laws in Alabama last week: NPR’s Splendid Table show featured a piece about hot dog restaurants sprouting up all over the Los Angeles area, many owned by folks in the movie business.

But after reporting the story, and sampling a La Fonda dog as part of my research, I’m not feeling sated at all by frankfurters. In fact, I’m kind of miffed that that was the, um, twelfth time I’ve written frankfurter this week. Wait, make that thirteen.

But I did start to get all misty-eyed over the late-night, inebriated food choices I’ve made in my day (of which hot dogs were a staple), including the wonderful Trinidadian tradition of doubles — two fried flat breads covered in curried chick peas. But that street cart nosh, best purchased off of Brian Lara Promenade in the Port of Spain, also is a super food: Doubles, the name a reference to the two breads, possess the power to cure drunkenness.

I’m not talking about ridding the body of hangovers; doubles ain’t no Alka-Seltzer or aspirin. I mean in-the-moment clarity, but not exactly sobriety. No joke.

I can’t recall anything that tasty with such restorative abilities.

Wouldn’t that be a great addition to miniscule food cart scene here?

Well, the lucidity it offers may have the downside of convincing drunken drivers they can safely motor on home.

And, let’s face it, nobody needs any more help convincing themselves of their sauced superpowers.

Still, seeing as though I don’t get many — none, actually — late nights out now that I’m a father, sometimes I do stay up past sundown, so I’d sure appreciate a menu expansion for late-night choices. Curried chickpeas on the street corner sounds like a start.

In other news

Diego Garcia is our Marquee centerpiece this week, and I couldn’t be more excited. His early (7 p.m.) outdoor show on the Georgia Theatre rooftop will be my daughter’s first musical outing, because I’m not counting the horrible Atlanta band she and I were forced to listen to at Terrapin last week.

His music is great, sure, if you are into romantic crooners and Julio Iglesias-esque stuff. But as far as music journalism goes, he surprised me with his authenticity. Interviews with musicians can be a bit formulaic at times, but when the subject is distracted from my questions due to caring for his daughter, as Garcia was, I can’t help but be endeared. I can’t count myself a fan of Garcia’s old band, Elefant — that was a bit cheesy for my tastes. But his Latin-influenced solo recordings will make a perfect sonic backdrop for warm weather cocktail sips — with a baby strapped to my chest.

As always, follow me on Twitter: @andregallant. I will return your missing socks if you do.

• André Gallant is the arts and entertainment reporter for the Banner-Herald. Send email to andre.gallant@onlineathens.com.